Thursday, August 29, 2013

Economic Woes and White Cheese

Once again, it seems that people in Israel sometimes don't see the forest for the trees.

The cottage cheese uprising - which I didn't participate in, mainly because during the time of the cottage cheese boycott a local store kept cottage cheese on sale for about 4 shekels/container (now it's well over 6, and sadly, I hardly buy cottage cheese anymore) - was supposed to be the start of major changes for those of us not in the top echelon of society.

But it really didn't do anything. Cottage Cheese is even more expensive now than it was when the boycott happened! And the other issues? Cost of housing, utilities, cars, gas, insurance? I haven't seen anything go down (please correct me if I'm wrong).

Now, the talk of the day is about White Cheese. It seems the price of White Cheese has risen a ridiculous 56% since 1999, and the public wasn't happy about it, so now it will go back into the "basket" of price controlled foods.

Okay.

Now really, they tell me the price will go down by about 20%. I expect this means that instead of spending 20 shekels a month on White Cheese (I'm sure some spend more, some less), I will now spend 16 shekels a month on it. Is that 4 shekels a month going to make a DENT in my electric bills (the rates keep going up)? Is that going to offset the kitzbat yeladim reduction?

Is it going to change my life?

I think not.

I don't have the answers, but I'm pretty sure we need some more fundamental changes than controlling the price of White Cheese.

Maybe the electric company should lower their rates to something reasonable?

Or the water company?

Maybe VAT shouldn't apply to basic food items? 

Just a thought.

1 comment:

  1. In Mega the cottage cheese is still 5.something. You are right of course but every little does help. For some families it's a saving of 4nis a couple times a week so that 32nis could be an extra chicken one Shabbat or a platter of 30 eggs.

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